Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #11 - Mac's Meltdown

Crowe: The 2023 Season Week #11 - Mac's Meltdown

Is the end truly here for quarterback Mac Jones in New England after three short seasons? That’s what the football world, media, fans, and some of his teammates are asking after the latest Patriots debacle, a 10-6 loss in Frankfurt, Germany in which Jones threw an awful fourth-quarter interception and was benched by head coach Bill Belichick.

It can be said that after a bona fide quality rookie season in which New England won 10 games and made it to the playoffs, Jones was primed for success. Yet, it’s been just the opposite since. Marked by changes in the coaching staff, lack of weapons around him, and injuries to the offensive line that continues to not protect him week in and week out, Jones has struggled to the point where the Patriots now are looked upon as one of the worst teams in the league.

Still, Jones was seen practicing with the first team starters Wednesday before the team left for its bye week (at least no loss this weekend, right). As for Belichick, he’s yet to comment on who his quarterback would be in week 12 against the Giants. Jones says he needs to be strong.

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“I need to be confident in myself,” Jones said in his weekly interview on WEEI’s Jones and Meggo.

In my opinion, the Patriots need to move on from Jones, who hasn’t corrected his mistakes of turning the ball over and continually throwing off his back foot, as witnessed by his fatal mistake against the Colts that got him benched for backup Bailey Zappe. Zappe’s not the answer either. So, I would devote the two weeks moving forward to third-stringer Will Grier out of West Virginia and see what you have there. It’s the unknown that the team hasn’t tapped yet.

And speaking about untapped, those Belichick rumors of coaching elsewhere in 2024 persist. This week, famed football writer Gary Myers, formerly of the NY Daily News, says the Chargers could be the frontrunners for his services. Patriots fans, the pieces seem to be falling apart week by week. It may be only a matter of time before it implodes for good.

NFL Week 11 Power Rankings

 

10. Houston Texans (5-4, Last week not ranked)

Don’t look now, but the Texans aren’t just a feel-good story. Last week’s last-second victory on the road in Cincinnati proves they’re no fluke. Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud is second in the league with 2626 yards passing to go with his 15 touchdowns. What’s more impressive is that he’s thrown only two interceptions.

 

9. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3, Last week ranked 4th)

The Jaguars surely missed out on a chance to cement their right to be called certified contenders, losing 34-3 at home to the 49ers last Sunday. To get back on track, the offense will have to be more consistent and that begins with QB Trevor Lawrence getting wide receiver Calvin Ridley back more involved after a two-catch, 20-yard day.

 

8. Dallas Cowboys (6-3, Last week ranked 8th)

Sorry Cowboys fans, we’re not getting you much credit for beating up on the punchless Giants and third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito. For that 49-17 victory, Dallas gets to stay at night eight before heading to Carolina to face the 1-8 Panthers this week.

 

7. Miami Dolphins (6-3, Last week ranked 7th)

A bye in week 10 leaves the Dolphins at number seven for our Power Rankings. They’ll welcome the suddenly surging Raiders, winners of two straight games in week 11. Miami’s next five games come against teams that are currently .500 or worse which could give them the chance to put some room in between themselves and the Bills & Jets in the AFC East.

 

6. Cleveland Browns (6-3, Last week ranked 9th)

Just when it looked like the Browns were going to lose for the second time this season to the Ravens, Cleveland rallied for a final-second victory 33-31 after rallying from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit. The downside comes in Deshaun Watson being ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury that now has rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson back as the starter at quarterback starting this Sunday against Pittsburgh.

 

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-3, Last week ranked 2nd)

If not for three blown fourth-quarter leads against Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, the Ravens could be undefeated. It’s something to watch for this Baltimore team that remains top-ranked on both sides of the ball. They’re number one running the ball (155 yards/game) and they’ve given up only 16.1 points per game, good for third in the league. The Ravens did suffer a huge loss Thursday night, however. losing All-World tight end Mark Andrews to a season-ending ankle injury in their win over Cincinnati.

 

4. Detroit Lions (7-2, Last week ranked 5th)

How good do the Lions feel about themselves? Tied at 38 in the fourth quarter’s final minutes against the Chargers and facing fourth and two in field goal range at the 26-yard line, head coach Dan Campbell goes for it. Detroit converts and solidifies the win with an easier 41-yard field goal by Riley Patterson. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr averaged 7.4 yards per carry against Los Angeles making life easy on quarterback Jarod Goff.

 

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-3, Last week ranked 10th)

So much for all those questions about how good the 49ers were. Gone is the three-game losing streak with one lopsided 34-3 rout of the Jaguars in Jacksonville Sunday. The only thing San Francisco didn’t accomplish was getting running back Christian McCaffery his 18th straight game with a touchdown. It was a statement win they delivered to the entire league and makes them the biggest jumper, seven spots, in this week’s power rankings.

 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-2, Last week ranked 3rd)

A bye in week 10 keeps the Chiefs in the top spot in the AFC and slides them up one here. Head coach Andy Reid is 28-4 in games after the bye, which bodes well as the Chiefs welcome the Eagles to Kansas City Monday night in a battle of the top two teams in this week’s power rankings.

 

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-1, Last week ranked 1st)

The spoiler above gave it away as the Eagles stay atop our rankings once again with the NFL’s top record at 8-1. The next weeks are the most challenging ones Philadelphia will face all season long. After the Chiefs, the Eagles hosted Buffalo and San Francisco before heading to Dallas and Seattle for road games.

 

Five games to watch for week 11
Steelers at Browns (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Cardinals at Texans (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Raiders at Dolphins (Sunday 1 pm on CBS)
Vikings at Broncos (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC)
Eagles at Chiefs (Monday 8:15 pm on ABC/ESPN)